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Personal loans in Merrill, WI

For a borrower in Merrill, a personal loan is a sum repaid in equal monthly installments, priced mainly from your credit profile, income and debt load. At about 9,089 residents, Merrill is the 106th-largest of the 605 Census places in Wisconsin. Wisconsin's rate ceilings and lender-licensing requirements appear below, each with the publisher and date behind it.

By the Personalloaned Editorial Team · Last updated 2026-09-16

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Merrill at a glance

  • Population: 9,089 — 106th in Wisconsin, which has 605 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
  • 2020 Census base: 9,350 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
  • 2020 to 2023 change: down about 2.8% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
  • Rank among Wisconsin places: 106th largest of 605 (US Census Bureau).
  • Size percentile: larger than about 82% of the Census places in Wisconsin (US Census Bureau).
  • Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 45.1806, -89.7003.
  • Nearest larger cities: Wausau, WI (15 mi); Weston, WI (21 mi); Marshfield, WI (43 mi); Stevens Point, WI (46 mi); Plover, WI (50 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
  • Smaller towns nearby: Maine, WI (9 mi); Marathon City, WI (18 mi); Schofield, WI (19 mi) (US Census Bureau).

What a personal loan costs in Merrill

A personal loan hands you a single sum and a repayment schedule of equal monthly installments over an agreed term.

The number to compare is the APR, not the interest rate, because the APR folds in origination fees and other charges; our personal loan calculator will show what a given amount and term would cost.

The offer you receive reflects the lender's read of your credit, income and debts, and the term controls the balance between payment size and total interest.

Set the loan amount from the expense itself rather than the maximum you are approved for, and keep the payment within your existing budget.

Wisconsin lending rules that apply in Merrill

The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Wisconsin, and therefore in Merrill.

RuleDetailSource
Small-loan / installment lender licensingLicensed lender license required from the Division of Banking (Wis. Stat. § 138.09)
Source says: Before any person may do business under this section, that person shall first obtain a license from the division.		Wisconsin State Legislature
as of 2026-09-16
State lending regulatorWisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Division of Banking
Source says: "Department" means the department of financial institutions		Wisconsin State Legislature
as of 2026-09-16
Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap)12% per year maximum ($12 per $100) on the declining principal balance, except as authorized by other statutes (Wis. Stat. § 138.05(1)(a))
Source says: At the rate of $12 upon $100 for one year computed upon the declining principal balance of the loan or forbearance		Wisconsin State Legislature
as of 2026-09-16
Payday lending statusLegal and licensed by the DFI Division of Banking; statewide database tracking (Wis. Stat. § 138.14)
Source says: "Licensee" means a person holding a license issued by the division under sub. (5)		Wisconsin State Legislature
as of 2026-09-16

How to compare offers in Merrill

A few practical steps will make the process in Merrill less costly:

  1. Pull your free credit reports and dispute any error — it is the cheapest way to improve the rate you are offered.
  2. Run your figures through the personal loan calculator on this site so you know the payment before a lender quotes one.
  3. Pre-qualify with at least three lenders and compare the APR, not the interest rate.
  4. Check that the lender is licensed in Wisconsin using the regulator named above.
  5. Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a personal loan with bad credit in Merrill?
Yes, but expect a higher APR and possibly a smaller amount. Lenders that serve borrowers with lower scores are licensed statewide, so your options in Merrill are the same as elsewhere in Wisconsin.
How much can I borrow with a personal loan in Merrill?
Loan amounts are set by each lender and depend on your income, credit and existing debts, so we do not quote a range we cannot source. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau explains how lenders assess an application, and our personal loan calculator will model the payment for any amount before you apply.
Does a personal loan in Merrill require collateral?
Unsecured personal loans do not require collateral. A secured loan, such as a home-equity or auto-secured loan, does — and it puts the pledged asset at risk if you default.
Will shopping for a loan in Merrill hurt my credit?
Pre-qualification usually uses a soft credit pull that does not affect your score. A full application triggers a hard inquiry, which may lower your score by a few points temporarily.

Nearby places

Where these figures come from

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